It was said that Gorbachev was the first “rock n’ roll” leader of the Soviet Union and was instrumental, (if you pardon the pun), into bringing the West into the East – and into the hearts, minds and everyday thoughts of freedom for all those under the the shadow of the ancient Soviet authorities.

However, it was also Mikhail Gorbachev who said: “…more than any ideology, more than any religion, more than Vietnam or any war or nuclear bomb, the single most important reason for the diffusion of the Cold War was…the Beatles.” Fact.

Having just watched a BBC rockumentary on the effect that The Beatles had on the Soviet Union, you come to understand that The Beatles actually meant much, much more to the Soviet youth of the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s then they ever did to Western teenagers as just the “best band ever”.

Using illegally recorded “reel-to-reel” recordings, (from Radio Luxembourg and the like), it was possible for Muscovite teenagers back in the 60’s to make their own “records”. With the help of the small mobile recording studios which used to appear on Moscow street corners for Soviet soldiers to make records to send back to their families far away…. teenagers would turn up with their reel-to-reel recordings – and using old, discarded hospital x-ray photos they would cut out circular discs and record the grooves on a picture of Uncle Vladimir’s ribs. The “ribs”, (as they were called in street language), would sell for about 3 rubles. They would be smuggled in coat sleeves etc, (being very flexible!), and swapped and traded.

Even when the official Russian state recording service began to release Beatles tracks – they also ignored copyright, and became one of the biggest official “Beatles Bootleggers” of all time.

With Paul McCartney playing Moscow in 2003, and Kiev in Oct 2008 – it was a like a dream come true for many Soviets – getting to see one of their own National heroes who shaped their nation’s future “back in the USSR”….. ;o)

Tags: BBC, Beatles, bootleggers, circular discs, George Harrison, hearts minds, John Lennon, Luxembourg, Mikhail, mikhail gorbachev, moscow street, Muscovite, national heroes, Paul McCartney, Radio, radio luxembourg, Ringo Starr, rockumentary, soviet authorities, street language, USSR